Gray Media Agrees to Purchase Block Communications’ Television Stations
Monday, August 4th, 2025
Gray Media, Inc. (“Gray”) has reached an agreement with Block Communications, Inc. (“BCI”) to acquire its television stations for $80 million. We expect the transaction to strengthen our presence in the Midwest by creating a new Big Four duopoly in one market and by adding top-ranked local news stations in two more midwestern markets that can support and benefit from our strong local stations in adjacent markets.
The transaction includes WDRB and WBKI, the FOX and CW affiliates for the Louisville, Kentucky, market (DMA 49), where Gray owns and operates NBC affiliate WAVE3. The transaction also includes WAND, the NBC affiliate for the Springfield-Champaign-Decatur, Illinois, market (DMA 92), and WLIO, the NBC affiliate for the Lima, Ohio, market (DMA 190) as well as WLIO’s associated low power television stations. WAND and WLIO each had the highest all-day ratings among television households in their markets during 2024, according to Comscore.
Gray anticipates closing these transactions in the fourth quarter of this year following receipt of regulatory approval, including certain waivers of the FCC’s current ownership rules, and other customary closing conditions.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are based largely on Gray’s current expectations and reflect various estimates and assumptions by Gray. These statements are statements other than those of historical fact and may be identified by words such as “estimates,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “will,” “implied,” “assume” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results and achievements to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such risks, trends and uncertainties, which in some instances are beyond Gray’s control, include the inability to complete the proposed transaction within the expected timeframe, or at all, and other future events. Gray is subject to additional risks and uncertainties described in its quarterly and annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including in the “Risk Factors,” and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations sections contained therein, which reports are made publicly available via www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statements in this communication should be evaluated in light of these important risk factors. This press release reflects management’s views as of the date hereof. Except to the extent required by applicable law, Gray undertakes no obligation to update or revise any information contained in this communication beyond the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.